PLTTE 377. 
Watsonta Meriana, Miller. (Fl. Cap. Vol VL, p. 101.) 
Natural Order, IRipEaz. 
“ Corm globose, 1 to 14 inch diameter; tunics of reticulated fibres ending at 
the top in a ring of bristles.” Stems 3 to 4: feet long. Leaves, basal ones 3 to 4, 
ensiform, 1 to 2 feet long, + to inch broad (in our specimen), erect, very rigid, 
mid-vein very prominent, lateral ones fine, numerous. Stem leaves similar but 
shorter. Inflorescence spicate; spathe-valves oblong-lanceolate, acute, reddish- 
brown, rigid, striate, 1-flowered, 1 inch long. Flowers 7 to 20 in a lax spike, 
bright red. Perianth tube curved; 13 to 2 inches long, gradually widening to 
throat, cylindrical in upper half, throat + to 4 inch diameter, segments oblong, 
acute, ? to 1 inch long. Stamens 3, unilateral, inserted above base of corolla tube, 
included ; anthers 4 inch long, linear-oblong, versatile, sagittate at base. Style 
filiform, 3-branched, branches short, bifid, shorter than the perianth. Ovary sub- 
globose, 3-celled, ovules numerous, superposed. Fruit an oblong locuticidal 
capsule. ‘‘ Seeds globose or angled by pressure.” 
Habitat - Natau: On a stony hill near Byrne, 2-3000 feet alt, Wood, 1574; not 
uncommon in open ground in the midlands and upper districts. 
A very handsome and common plant in the mid and uplands of the Colony, 
usually found on stony hills, and always in open ground, where its bright red 
flowers are very conspicuous. It has long been in cultivation in Europe. It was 
figured and described as Antholyza Meriana Linn. in the Botanical Magizine Vol. 
XIL., pl. 418, and again in the same work under its present name in Vol XXX., 
pl. 1193. 
Fig. i, corolla opened; 2, a stamen; 3, style and stigma; 4, cross section of 
ovary ; except fig. 1, all enlarged. 
